Ezra 5:12
What does Ezra 5:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 5:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 5:12 means
The elders confess the reason the first temple was destroyed: their fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath. God, not Babylon’s might, authored their exile by handing them to Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed the house and deported the people. This humility disarms suspicion. They do not claim victimhood or blame the empire; they acknowledge divine judgment and justice. Their current rebuilding is therefore not subversion but repentance and restoration under God’s mercy. By interpreting history theologically and truthfully, they honor the king and, more importantly, honor God, whose sovereign hand both disciplines and restores His people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when the God of heaven was moved to wrath by our fathers, he gave them up into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldaean, who sent destruction on this house and took the people away into Babylon.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but after that our fathers made the God of heaven angry, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the Chaldean, and this house he destroyed, and the people he removed to Babylon;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried away the people to Babylon.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But after that our fathers had provoked theGod of the heavens to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, and he destroyed this house, and carried the people away unto Babylon.
Context
Following their declaration of identity and purpose (verse 11), the builders give the moral and historical background for the temple’s earlier ruin. This paves the way for their appeal to imperial authorization in verses 13–15. The logic flows: our God is sovereign; He judged us; now He has providentially opened a door through Cyrus to rebuild. The case is both honest and ordered.
v.11And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.
v.12This passage
v.13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 1:1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
- Daniel 9:5
we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances;
- 2 Kings 21:12
therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
- Judges 2:14
And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
- Jeremiah 39:1
(in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;
- 2 Kings 24:10
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.